Dear Students,
The end of the semester has arrived. It feels a little surreal given that it feels like winter one day and summer the next, but never really like Spring. It feels a little surreal given all we’ve experienced on our Columbia campus the past few weeks and in our shared world the past many months. It feels a little surreal given that the passage of time has not felt normal since 2019. It feels a little surreal given I’m not nearly ready to say goodbye to our graduating students.
What does feel real is how hard you all have worked this semester and this year, how much you’ve learned, the bonds you’ve formed and the wisdom and friendships you will carry with you into the summer and really, forever. If you are feeling a little unsteady – excited but apprehensive, confident but unsure, thrilled but melancholy, energized but fatigued, hopeful but hesitant – you are in good company. This is a time of transition. It’s a wonderfully celebratory time of academic, professional and personal accomplishment and it’s also a time of moving, moving on, changing jobs, cities, countries, embracing new roles and eschewing old ones. You’re navigating many boundaries right now (yes, B.A.R.T. is relevant to pretty much everything.) It’s normal to feel at sea even as you are also feeling proud and happy.
You all have worked extremely hard in challenging times and you have juggled myriad commitments, tasks, relationships, and contexts. You are resilient, whip smart, and kind. And, you are strong! Don’t even get me started on the fortitude it takes to deal with the rats in the NYC subway. (Thank you to those at the OHDCC end-of-year social event last week who gave me an enlightening tutorial on the relationship between NYC zip code and rat size. Interesting statistics!) Try to trust yourself and know that you have everything you need to manage what’s next in your education, career and life. And you have a lifelong network in our S-OP Community to help you do it.
Be gentle with yourselves over the next few weeks. Try to be present in the good feelings as well as the hard ones and know that you are boundary-crossing and all of it is normal. As much as you can, do things that fill you up with joy. Reach out to one another. Celebrate. Make each other laugh. Listen. Know we are proud of all of you.
Congratulations to all our graduating students. Warm wishes to all of our continuing students. Regardless, see you soon.
Warmly,
Current Student Profile
Carol Jaksec is a captain in the United States Army and is completing her final semester as a student in the S-OP M.A. Program. She is also a member of the Eisenhower Leader Development Program (ELDP) at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Carol is a 2016 Reserve Officer Training Corps graduate from the University of Maryland where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Arabic Studies. She is from Pittsburgh, PA and has enjoyed several assignments on the east coast in the last ten years.
Prior to coming to West Point, Carol was stationed in Fort Campbell, KY just outside of Nashville. There, she commanded a logistics distribution company and a logistics headquarters company. After her graduation from TC this May, she will serve as a Tactical Officer at West Point. In this role, she will act as the primary coach and mentor for 120 cadets. She will help them navigate the balance between academic, physical fitness, and military requirements while developing their character.
Carol has had a transformational experience in the S-OP Program at TC. She discovered a passion for research about leadership practices and coaching and a fascination with group dynamics and organizational development. She has chosen to pursue a certification in coaching with the Army Coaching Program to foster her cadets’ development. Carol is confident that her education has effectively prepared her for future leadership challenges.
When not at school or work, Carol enjoys running, making homemade pasta, and watching hockey. She is excited to continue exploring NY with her husband, Gregory, and their vivacious one-year-old daughter, Elizabeth.
Alumni Profile
Robert "RC" Whitehouse started a journey of self-discovery and professional growth upon joining the S-OP M.A. Program in 2009. Moving from Vermont with his partner, now spouse, RC relocated to NYC to pursue his academic aspirations. Immersed in the program's rich learning environment, RC found himself drawn to the intricacies of group relations and dynamics, an interest that continues to shape his career to this day. RC credits the S-OP M.A. program for supercharging his career.
After graduating in 2011, RC continued his study of groups and systems through participating in over 20 group relations conferences (about half of them at TC) as a staff member, leveraging his experience to explore the complexities that arise when individuals come together to form a larger whole. Certified as an A.K. Rice consultant, he has committed himself to refining his understanding of the multifaceted factors influencing the groups and organizations to which we all belong.
Remaining rooted in vibrant NYC, RC's professional journey initially began in Learning and Development, gradually expanding to encompass a broader talent portfolio. Over the past seven years he has been employed by a tech firm, helping it to transform from a scrappy start up to a major player in the adtech space. Starting as Head of L&D, RC is currently the Senior Vice President of Talent Business Partnership for EMEA and NA.
A champion of people-centric leadership, RC strives to strike a balance between individual well-being and organizational objectives, recognizing that an imbalance can create challenges - no matter the setting. Drawing from his understanding of group dynamics theories, he helps individuals to understand the nuances of authority, unravel interpersonal conflicts, and foster a high performing team.
Beyond his work, RC is an avid runner. Though he is not the fastest, he finds focus in the rhythmic nature of running. He and his spouse have become proud New Yorkers after all these years, while maintaining a deep love of nature and the outdoors. RC cherishes moments spent with his family, friends, and the many nieces and nephews that have joined he and his spouse's lives by birth and by the blessings of friendship. RC loves to read, watch movies, and enjoy the playful sounds of pop music. Feel free to connect with RC on LinkedIn here.
Robert "RC" Whitehouse started a journey of self-discovery and professional growth upon joining the S-OP M.A. Program in 2009. Moving from Vermont with his partner, now spouse, RC relocated to NYC to pursue his academic aspirations. Immersed in the program's rich learning environment, RC found himself drawn to the intricacies of group relations and dynamics, an interest that continues to shape his career to this day. RC credits the S-OP M.A. program for supercharging his career.
After graduating in 2011, RC continued his study of groups and systems through participating in over 20 group relations conferences (about half of them at TC) as a staff member, leveraging his experience to explore the complexities that arise when individuals come together to form a larger whole. Certified as an A.K. Rice consultant, he has committed himself to refining his understanding of the multifaceted factors influencing the groups and organizations to which we all belong.
Remaining rooted in vibrant NYC, RC's professional journey initially began in Learning and Development, gradually expanding to encompass a broader talent portfolio. Over the past seven years he has been employed by a tech firm, helping it to transform from a scrappy start up to a major player in the adtech space. Starting as Head of L&D, RC is currently the Senior Vice President of Talent Business Partnership for EMEA and NA.
A champion of people-centric leadership, RC strives to strike a balance between individual well-being and organizational objectives, recognizing that an imbalance can create challenges - no matter the setting. Drawing from his understanding of group dynamics theories, he helps individuals to understand the nuances of authority, unravel interpersonal conflicts, and foster a high performing team.
Beyond his work, RC is an avid runner. Though he is not the fastest, he finds focus in the rhythmic nature of running. He and his spouse have become proud New Yorkers after all these years, while maintaining a deep love of nature and the outdoors. RC cherishes moments spent with his family, friends, and the many nieces and nephews that have joined he and his spouse's lives by birth and by the blessings of friendship. RC loves to read, watch movies, and enjoy the playful sounds of pop music. Feel free to connect with RC on LinkedIn here.